Today I found out just how much weight I've gained since March 2020

[Fatflump]

A few pounds shy of 6 stone

I was hoping it was more like 4.

I am going back as from today to reducing my carbs, cutting out chocolate, biscuits and other nonsense as of today but it feels like such a mountain to climb.

I know I'm being U for whining because I'm the one who gained the weight - basically by eating constantly during the last 19 months of WFH, now of course I wish I'd stopped sooner. Maybe when I"d only gained 3st

At the moment I just feel like such a fat (f)lump...hence the name change.

Thank you for all the kind words though, they are appreciated. I am usually my sternest critic and do indulge in mental self flagellation about what I could or should have done.

As I read earlier this week, the best time to have started this was before today, but the second best is today, rather than waiting any longer.

@fatflump I hear you I have put on a lot of weight too but at least you used to go to the gym so you can get back into that again. I have been on and off dieting but then bingeing. Recently I just thought to myself I hate the?way I look more than I love nice food so I am trying my best to cut bread cakes and calories etc. I am down 6 pounds in the last few weeks so am going to keep going the way I am going. Well done on deciding to change once you get into it and see changes that will spur you on x

Have you thought about 5:2 diet?

Hi op, I've been there!
Always a slim size 12. Up to a size 16 post pandemic. Fat lump territory. My waist was so huge it was on the NHS danger zone(still is, but less so!)
I had 4st to lose. Have lost over half on 5:2 low carb. Come join us on the 5:2 thread. It might not work for some but it's worked for me so far.
Starting is the hardest thing but you can find something that works for you 🙂

Slimming World works wonders and is sustainable.

Did you eat out of depression? If so, have you had therapy? It's important to get to the root cause.

I gained an extra 3 stone during lockdown to add to the 2 stone overweight before hand. Iv joined online group but for me this time I'm taking it slow and trying to make it a lifestyle change.

I did change my lifestyle, I had a whole life based on not eating carbs, exercising a lot. I just need to change it back again.

I don't think I'm depressed, I just love food. I don't have an off switch or know when I'm full. So I have to consciously limit what I eat because otherwise I'll just keep going. Since I've been at home, I've not been limiting what I eat and this is the result.

[quote Sparklfairy]@Marvellousmadness bloody hell talking about kicking an upset OP when she's down.[/quote]
I know what a shitty comment. What are you thinking?

@Fatflump

I did change my lifestyle, I had a whole life based on not eating carbs, exercising a lot. I just need to change it back again.

I don't think I'm depressed, I just love food. I don't have an off switch or know when I'm full. So I have to consciously limit what I eat because otherwise I'll just keep going. Since I've been at home, I've not been limiting what I eat and this is the result.

Would a portion plate help? I find them handy

You sound a lot like me - I also went to the gym regularly pre-Covid, and had to limit carbs and calories even at a healthy weight as just eating what I feel like results in weight gain.

I've gained over 2 stone and am (stupidly) worried about going back to my gym because obviously people will notice.

It's possible to lose the weight, I know. It's just a lot of hard work, unfortunately.

OP, i have also gained weight having been fit as a fiddle when this whole thing started.

Eating, baking, drinking wine all did it for me.

I am shifting it since I started operation "stop eating shite" and it is going well, slowly and steady.

I have lost my love of shopping and have a great wardrobe, so if I don't shift it, I will have to buy a new one and I honestly can't be arsed, so stop eating shite it is!😁

We all have to start somewhere and you know you can do it because you have done it before.

One bit of relief I like now that I have started is that I am no longer giving myself a hard time about it.

I am still having wine at the weekend.
I haven't any intention of cutting it out completely..screw that!

If you look at it the other way though you have decided to make a change now before it was more- you’ve made a positive step and the first step is the hardest.
Don’t rush things, make it slow and steady and make it sustainable. You didn’t gain it all overnight so you won’t lose it all overnight either so be kind to yourself.

Since I had my child two years ago I have put on around 6 stone. I also view food as a reward. I know people have conflicting feelings on this but I am currently using saxenda and I have lost about a stone in 2 weeks. It does not come without its risks and it is something you should definitely be aware of. But for the first time in a very long time food isn't plaguing my brain. You will do this you have showed this amazing willpower in the past you will do it again. I fear I will always have a binge eating disorder but for now this injection is taking away any cravings I have.

@billy1966 I also love to shop. Or at least I did. Since Covid I've bought barely anything, have hobbled along with some of my old 'fat' clothes that I hadn't chucked out, various pairs of leggings, and some oversized T shirts which are now just regular size on me.

Am keeping a list of my daily food, I don't calorie count as such but writing it down is more of a reminder of what I've eaten/ bit of accountability.

Actually I've remembered I did buy a dress very cheaply in the sales a couple of months ago. It's at least a size too small but I'm now planning to wear it at Christmas (we have a bit of a tradition where we all wear a new outfit Xmas day) which I think is definitely achievable and hopefully will spur me on a bit.

Be kind to yourself. If you can afford, join a club / app / programme such as Second Nature, Weight Watchers etc. You need a system, just deciding to suddenly eat differently is hard.

Don’t feel bad and blame yourself about it OP. Covid lockdown was tough on us all. Focus on the future and committing to a realistic plan of action. You’ve done it before so you know you can lose the weight. It sounds like routine and structure / activities like the gym helped you before so try to create a similar schedule. Good luck.

You sound more positive already! The good news is you say you gained it by snacking constantly so at least you already know where you are going wrong. A lot easier to fix than for someone who can't understand why they've gained weight.
Can you do online food shopping only and meal plan? That way you only have in what you are allowed to eat so no extra snacks possible? And plenty of fruit or something to replace the habit side of grazing.
If it is you giving yourself little rewards is there some other way to do it? Like sticking the £2 you'd have spent on snacks in a day in a jar every time you achieve a good eating day to go towards something you really want?
And a really simple one, if you are working from home, clean your teeth more often, especially with the ice kind that claims lasting freshness. It ruins the taste of chocolate for a good hour so it is not nearly so appealing!

To maintain myself at my pre gain weight I only ate pasta or potatoes at most once weekly, didn't eat any kind of snack foods or drink alcohol and was exercising 5 times a week.

This sounds bloody miserable to me as a maintenance plan, maybe you were trying to maintain at too low a weight?

Be kind to yourself, no point beating yourself up. Would it be helpful to you if you joined a slimming club. I lost lockdown weight and found it really supportive to have people around going through the same thing. One step at a time.

The cleaning teeth idea is a good one thank you - will try it. It also makes sure I get up from my desk rather than sitting there for hours on end as I tend to when working.

@nanbread I'll be honest at my low weight I was only just within 'normal' BMI - I was 11st and am 5 foot 6. I feel like that's what I should weigh, but it does require eating and exercising in the way I've described.

If you're tracking your food there's a few apps you can use if you like. Probably the biggest one is my fitness Pal but i use one called nutracheck as it's uk based so you can search for the food or search the barcode and it's focused on British brands. You can save your favourite meals too. My fitness Pal is worldwide so it can take ages to find what you are looking for. You can track exercise and water on there too. If you like gadgets and graphs and stuff it can be quite good to use one of these apps to help you. You have to be honest with it though lol. You have to put everything in.

I'll be honest that I can't face scanning or adding up every bit of food I eat, writing it down seems easier somehow - and I can tell tbh if I've eaten too much.

Like yesterday I ate fruit (two handfuls of grapes, a pot of pomegranate seeds, an apple), a scrambled egg, beans and a slice of wholemeal toast, 2 slices of halloumi, salad, chicken breast and a small amount of rice. Which was possibly more than I should have, but it was only day 1. Am trying to do better today.

It is so depressing. I'm in the same boat with the added joy of having raised my blood pressure.

I started to cut back a few months ago and thought there would be an initial big weight loss but there wasn't. It's coming off at about 3-4 pounds a month. So disheartening as it certainly went on a lot faster than that.

But every pound off is better than a pound staying on.

Oh me too! I was horrified at how much weight I put on! Im cutting back, doing exercise and whilst my clothes are looser I dont think I've lost much.

But we've come through such a shit time.

2020 was an extremely traumatic year. Most of the time it felt like living in a horror film. Be kind to yourself.